Ratanakkiri - Northeastern Cambodia as an alternative destination for tourist

Extensive construction work to build and pave roads in Cambodia’s northeast includes plans to build a bridge across the Sre Pok River to connect Ratanakkiri and Mondolkiri provinces, according to provincial officials.

The feasibility and environmental impact are still being studied for a $3 million bridge to be built along National Road 76 across the Sre Pok River in Ratanakkiri’s Lumphat district that will connect with Mondolkiri’s Koh Nheak district, according to So Samnang, Director of the Provincial Public Works and Transportation department.

He said the bridge, which would be built by the Chinese company China Road Bridge Corporation, was part of plans to make the region’s roads more accessible for tourists and to improve the transportation of agricultural products.

“If the road construction is finished, it will attract many more tourists to Ratanakkiri from Vietnam,” he said. Vietnam, according to Tourism Ministry statistics, has been the foremost source of tourists to Cambodia so far this year.

Overall, So Samnang said, about 70 km of National Road 78 between the provincial capital of Banlung and the Vietnam border is being paved in work paid for by a $20 million loan from the Vietnamese government.

Another project – paving 118 km of the same road between Stung Treng province and Banlung – will be managed by the Chinese company Shanghai Construction, So Samnang added. He said the project will cost $70 million – paid for by a loan from China – and will begin later this year.

Tra Nuth Sean, Director of the Provincial Tourism department, said the roadwork was part of the government’s plan to promote northeastern Cambodia as an alternative destination for tourist after the temples of Angkor and the coast.

“I predict that, in the next 20 years, Ratanakkiri will receive as many tourists as other tourist-attracting provinces because the government is now promoting the province,” he said.

As the Ratanakkiri airport is not operational, the only way to travel to Ratanakkiri is by road, making smoother transportation key to promoting tourism, Tra Nuth Sean said.

About 19,000 foreigners visited the province in 2008, he said, ranking it the fourth-most popular tourist destination in Cambodia behind Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and the coast.

Phu Quoc – Viet Nam’s Hidden Gem

Beaches to dream of ever after are not easy to find these days. Some 30 years ago, there were some romantic beaches on Phuket Island and Koh Samui, and the secluded beaches from Sihanoukville in Cambodia are just now getting to be developed. In Viet Nam, the long sandy beaches of Da Nang's China Beach and the palm-fringed beaches in Nah Trang are well known since the infamous Viet Nam War, but did you ever hear about Phu Quoc or have you even be there?

Phu Quoc is a new emerging island paradise at the outmost Southwest of Viet Nam near the Cambodian border. Actually, Phu Quoc consists of 26 islands and belongs to Kien Giang Province, which is part of the vast Mekong Delta. With its population of approximately 85,000, Phu Quoc is the name of the largest island with an area of 573 square kilometres (similar to Singapore). Besides a myriad of beautiful unspoilt beaches, the mountainous island is home to Phu Quoc National Park, which boasts a rare flora and fauna of original tropical rainforest. That is why Phu Quoc is also called “Emerald Island” - in contrast to the “Golden Island” Hainan, better known as the Hawaii of China, where the original forests are long gone already.

Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is some 45km west of Ha Tien on the Vietnamese mainland and only 15km south of the coast of Cambodia. In former times, Phu Quoc was a Cambodian island named Koh Tral. Nowadays, Phu Quoc is well known for its high-quality fish sauce and boasts arguably some of the best seafood in Viet Nam. Fishing is still the main industry on the island, but there are more and more plantations coming up to produce the highest quality pepper. Another distinctive feature of Phu Quoc is its native dog, which was originally a wild dog and only later domesticated. With a line of spirals running on the back, its unusually sharp teeth and razor-like claws are remarkable.

My plan to survey Phu Quoc was confirmed, when I had met GM Alban Mangione during ATF2009 in Ha Noi, who manages Chen La Resort & Spa on the island. As he had invited me to come down to inspect his property, I had the chance to take Vietnam Airlines Flight VN481 (52USD/per seat) from Ho Chi Minh City to Duong Dong in the early afternoon on January 20. After more than an hour flight, I landed at the small domestic airport (served by ATR 72) and headed straight north for 10km to Ong Lang Bay on a motor taxi to reach the resort in beautiful and tranquil setting.

The resort’s 24 villa rooms face the dramatically blue ocean and give the feeling to get away from it all. Incidentally, it was the night where the new American president was inaugurated! At a bar near the beach it was possible to play the Internet. Also, there were a cosy restaurant, small swimming pool, tennis court and 5 open rooms for spa and massages. A taxi speedboat (12USD p.p.) connects to Duong Dong. Constructions to enlarge the property with another 13 villas are on the way and it seems obvious that the resort has a rosy future (see at www.chenla-resort.com).

Duong Dong (“place of the poplar”) is the administrative capital of Phu Quoc Island and is nestled along a river with the same name. Fishing boats and sail junks a-bound and serve the central market with fresh seafood on a daily basis, while vegetables, fruit, and other consumer goods are carried from the mainland. To be near the people and inspect the cultural sites of the island, I changed residence to be near the fishing port, which is overshadowed by a Cao Dai (“Holy Eye”) sanctuary.

Astonishingly, Viet Nam has a diverse mix of religions, including Ancestor Worship, Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. The dominant religion seems to be Buddhism, but Christianity is also strong as a result of decades of French colonial rule. Interesting to note is that Cao Daism is a mixture of all the existing world religions – founded in 1926 by Ngo Minh Chieu and now flourishing with an estimated 2 million followers, mainly in the populous Mekong Delta.

First of all, I stayed one night in the Sasco Blue Lagoon Resort & Spa, which is getting modernised under Singaporean management (see at www.sasco-bluelagoon-resort.com). The 75-room resort seemed to be busy with affluent Russians and is just next to the luxury 4-star Sai Gon-Phu Quoc Resort & Spa, which is the centre of the island's booming tourism industry, with visiting Europeans and Vietnamese alike. There is an ATM machine, accepting all kind of credit cards. From this balcony, overlooking the Pacific, with its 90 bungalows and suites, the 20km white sandy Bai Long Beach stretches further south (see at www.sgphuquocresort.com.vn). When the annual “Tet” Festival arrived on January 25, Chief Marketing Officer James Doan Anh Phuc kindly invited me to the resort’s New Year Party, which featured local zither music, a sticky rice cake baking demonstration and a fierce beer-drinking contest.

Along the beach, it is easy to reach other properties by walking, such as the newly opened “la veranda” – Accor’s Grand Mercure Resort & Spa. Its 43 rooms and villas, including 6 suites in a colonial-style ambience, reflect the new pride of the island – just 3km away from the airport (see at www.laverandaresort.com).

Over seafood (mussel) dinner in a tropical garden setting, GM Nicolas Josi revealed that sightseeing options on the island are countless. Also, the island itself is calling for brave investors.

The rest of the quiet island days, I stayed in the centrally located Voi Vong Guesthouse, from where it was easy to walk downtown to explore Duong Dong’s important temples, such as Sung Hung Co Tu, a huge park-like area, where a spotless white statue of Kwan Am is venerated. Not to be missed are the ancestral shrines of Dinh Than Duong Dong in town and Dinh Cau, which is right near the busy port. Both temples tell intriguing stories about the earliest Vietnamese settlers of Phu Quoc Island.

Another tour takes tourists to the South to visit a famous pearl farm at Duong To Village, operated by New Zealander Grant Johnston. Some 32km south from Duong Dong Airport, you arrive in An Thoi, port and gateway to a bunch of islands, which are good for coral reef diving. An Thoi houses a big Christian church and offers a busy fish market. Also, there is the former Cay Dua colonial prison with a characteristic French architecture that was rebuilt in 1967 to jail Communist rebels. Today it is a tourist spot.

Coming to the eastern side of the island, tourists like to visit Bai Sao Beach, where Robinson comes alive. Already, there are 10 wooden bungalows to rent for 10USD each and a scenic seafood restaurant. The tour also touches down at Ham Ninh fishing village, where sea turtles and the protected “dugong” will be regularly sighted in a respectively clean environment. A crab eating experience is in order. Coming back to Duong Dong, there will be a visit to a fish sauce factory, Sim winery, and to the lively Night Market.

A tour to the North of Phu Quoc includes a visit to Ganh Dau, where people worship at the shrine of Nguyen Trung Truc, a national anti-French hero (1838-1868), and stroll along newly reclaimed land.

Cape Ganh Dao is just 5km from the Vietnamese-Cambodian sea border and near Sihanoukville in Cambodia. A recommended seafood (shrimp) restaurant is called “Gio Bien” at one of the most romantic beaches. On the way back, tourists can enjoy the tropical rainforest and visit one of the pepper plantations.

Highly advertised is “night fishing” by heading to the sea for catching fish and squids. Being a fisherman for a short while, you find yourself at night on board a fishing boat. In the distant, you see the light from the other boats stretching out like on a pearl chain. The bait is usually a worm to attract the fish accordingly. When successful in your catch, you will realise that Phu Quoc is still Viet Nam’s hidden gem.

I left Phu Quoc on January 27 to return to Ho Chi Minh overland via the huge Mekong Delta. With a Cantho-Vinashin Passenger Boat (190.000Dong=11USD p.p.), I first went to Ha Tien on the mainland from the new ferry departure point of Bai Vong Beach in the East. I stayed there for two nights at the Duc Tai Hotel to survey the city near the newly opened international border gate to Cambodia.

After that, I took a minibus from Ha Tien to Rach Gia and Long Xuyen, from where I made a side trip to Oc-Eo in An Giang Province. From there, after one night at the small An Long Hotel, it was not far to reach the river town of My Tho, where I stayed for another night at the Huong Duong Hotel to see the recently inaugurated 9km long Rach Mieu Bridge. Built by Vietnamese, the modern bridge now connects Tien Giang and Ben Tre Provinces. Reaching the Moevenpick Hotel Sai Gon in Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of January 31, I left Viet Nam the next day.

The new modern bridge is a clear sign that the Mekong Delta will be strategically developed to upgrade infrastructure, including Phu Quoc Island. Last year, constructions at the new Phu Quoc International Airport have already kick-started and will be completed in 2020. It is projected that some 7 million passengers will pass its doors in 2030. With its natural and cultural potentials, as well as proper investment projects, Phu Quoc will be then at the core centre of economy and tourism in the ASEAN region.

Travel Story by: Reinhard Hohler, GMS Media

Philippine tourism prepares to fly further as a world class destination as the country

Philippine tourism prepares to fly further as a world class destination as the country develops birdwatching sites for the 200 birds which are endemic to the Philippines.

Scenic locations have always been the country’s foremost tourist attraction. Over the years, these natural resources have also been the reason why the Philippines has attracted a new set of visitors; it is an asset that has the potential to enhance the country’s tourism numbers.

As one of the most naturally blessed countries in the world, Philippines is surrounded by pristine beaches, breathtaking peaks, and other gorgeous sites. It’s undeniable that philippines charm comes from having multiple destinations, as it can cater to every tourist’s individual interests.

CATCHING VISITORS

A province in Pampanga has been receiving growing numbers of tourists vying to get a glimpse of its unique avian visitors. Serving as a temporary home to numerous migratory birds, the 32,000 hectares of wetlands in Candaba Marsh has been catching the attention of the bird watching public.

The wetland is primarily composed of freshwater ponds and swamps and marshes with surrounding areas of grasslands and rice fields. Candaba Marsh regularly supports thousands of birds, especially during the months of October to April.

About 60 bird species abound in the area, including the Philippine Duck, garganeys, Northern Pintail, Noerthen Shoveler, and egrets. The number and variety of avian species have been delighting guests and giving rise to the popularity of bird watching in the country.

BIRDS’ “I” VIEW

Bird watching can be considered a relatively new hobby in the country but not in other parts of the world. The relaxing activity is very popular in the west, especially in European countries.

Called “birders,” bird watchers travel to different parts of the world for the chance to see specific species of birds. Aside from having binoculars and long lenses for their cameras, birders also bring with them a checklist of birds that they want to see as they enthusiastically go on adventures to different destinations for their passion.

Bird watching can be considered the aerial counterpart of scuba diving. The birders get a sense of fulfillment as they get to see, in the flesh, species of birds that they saw only in books and websites—just as scuba divers enjoy the marine biodiversity of our oceans.

“We have a total number of 600 species of birds in the country. What’s exciting about it is, 200 of those are endemic birds. They can only be found here in the Philippines,” said the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque as he marveled at the avian species in Candaba.

“At first, I was already amazed by the number of birds in plain view in the area. But with the use of binoculars, I saw the peaceful creatures up close. Watching them closely and noticing the details of the colors on their feathers is truly an enthralling feeling,” added the undersecretary as he shared his thoughts on his first experience with bird watching.

THE MARKET

The number of endemic birds in the country in itself serves as a very big draw for tourism. The Philippines has more endemic birds per square meter compared to the Amazon and the estimated number of bird watchers in the world is 8 million.

Jarque emphasized that “the UK has the most numbers of bird watchers; there are so many birders in that one country alone. There’s still a lot more in places such as London and nearby European countries. The market is really that big, that’s why I believe that Candaba has a very big potential in terms of attracting international tourists.”

But Candaba is not only being promoted to the international market but to local tourists as well. “The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, the first bird watching organization of the country, has reported a rapid growth in members and has been receiving a lot of inquiries. This shows how Filipinos are catching up on the hobby and are keen on appreciating the new attractions of the country,” remarked Jarque.

“With its proximity to Manila and [its] unique ambiance, I know that Candaba will be one of the provinces in the country that Filipinos will definitely enjoy,” he noted.

FROM ATTRACTION TO DESTINATION

Having recently celebrated its second Ibon Ebon festival, which is one of the most original celebrations in the country, Candaba is all set for further progress in the coming years.

The dance and festival reflect the culture of Candaba and has produced one of the most striking and original dances and parades the country has seen in years: the bird dance.

The province’s visionary mayor, Jerry Pelayo, announced the development in the province of a 500 million-peso ecopark at the heart of an 18,000 square meter swamp. For the province, it is not enough to just attract tourists; they also want tourists to have a full unique experience of Candaban culture.

“An attraction is not a destination; of course it’s a start and a good way to attract tourists. But the Department of Tourism is strongly encouraging projects such as that of Candaba wherein an attraction evolves into something deeper. The migratory birds will not just be a part of what people can see in the province but also the culture, the local food, the ambiance, and heritage sites will make the people stay and develop it from an attraction to a full-fledged destination,” concluded Jarque.

Thailand is ready to host TTM+ 2009

Thailand Travel Mart Plus the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+):
The Biggest Travel Business to Business Opportunity

With cooperation between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thai tourism industry, Thailand has the honour to annually host the largest B2B event ‘Thailand Travel Mart Plus the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+).

The event, first organized in 2001, has the uttermost objective to promote the tourism and service business in Thailand and its Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) counterparts. Small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) have also been supported on the international stage with their products on offer. The major markets include Europe, South East Asia, Eastern Asia, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as emerging ones; such as, the CIS countries, Eastern Europe, Middle East, South America, and South Africa.

In 2008, the Thailand Travel Mart Plus welcomed 440 delegate buyers from 60 countries including Thailand, an increase of 26.5% over the previous year. Participants were encouraged to meet 388 travel organisations and related service operators from Thailand and the GMS countries, featuring 67% from hotels and resorts, 12% from travel agents and tour operators, 10% from companies from the GMS, IMTGT, and NTOs, and 11% from other travel services; such as, airlines, ecotourism and adventure operators, golf courses, wellness and spa centres, as well as entertainment venues, theme parks, and culture shows.

For the year 2009, the Thailand Travel Mart Plus is scheduled to be held on 3-7 June. A briefing for buyers and sellers, together with on-site appointments between operators and patrons, will be arranged on the opening day at Central World’s Bangkok Convention Centre.

The last four days of the event will take place at the Challenger Hall, Muang Thong Thani Impact Arena Exhibition and Convention Centre. 4-5 June will be trade days, focusing on trade and business talks among operators and participants. 6-7 June will be consumer days for the general public, as well as post-tour days for buyers and media.

From 5 January-31 March, 2009, TAT is pleased to invite applicants from all over the world to be one of 300 delegate buyers in the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2009.

Applications for participation can be submitted at www.thailandtravelmartplus.com. Alternatively, TAT overseas offices are open for application by invitation.

In the same period, application forms for 400 booths are available for travel operators and service businesses across Thailand and the GMS countries. The 10 business categories arranged for the event are eco and adventure, wellness and spa, airlines, Greater Mekong Subregion, tour operators and travel agents, hotels and resorts, golf courses, entertainment venues/ theme parks/ culture shows, NTOs and associations, and other travel services. Application forms can be submitted online at www.thailandtravelmartplus.com.

Moreover, TAT welcomes local and international media to take part in this event to help promote tourism in Thailand and the GMS countries.